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BEGINS IN: ST. GEORGE, UTAH

Staircase to the Past: Utah’s Grand Circle of Parks and Monuments and the Grand Canyon’s North Rim

Elevation NoteThe highest elevation at about 8,200 feet. We will walk various trails and go to view points.

Equipment RequirementsWe suggest you bring a day pack that you can put on your back or around your waist to carry your water bottle and other items. Walking shoes with good tread and hiking pole for the daily walking field study. We will provide an instructor and group leader for all outings.

Itinerary for Jun 2 — Jun 12, 2014

Description: The College Inn is located in the heart of the historic district in St. George, six blocks from Dixie State University's campus. The historic district offers restored pioneer homes and buildings. This facility is used specifically for Road Scholar and other educational groups it is not used as housing for college students. St. George has beautiful red rock cliff and lava rock mesa as back drop with larger mountains and rock formations that can be seen in the distance. A lounge area with couches, DirecTV, a refrigerator, soda pop machine, guest laundry and microwave are available for your use. We also have a beautiful heated pool and hot tub for your enjoyment. The rooms do not have phones or televisions, but a public phone is available at the front desk.

Facility amenities: A lounge area with couches, DirecTV in lounge, free WiFi wireless Internet, a refrigerator, soda pop machine, guest laundry and microwave are available for your use. We also have a beautiful heated pool and hot tub for your enjoyment.

Smoking policy: NoSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Additional nights before: $35If you want to arrive early or stay over following the program you can arrange to stay with us for $35 per room per night. Please call (435) 634-2050 at least one week in advance during regular business hours to make a reservation.

Check in time: 3:00 PM

Day One: Monday, June 02 - Welcome and introductions in the College Inn Meet...

Arrive To: Arrive at the College Inn for check-in 3-5 p.m. The College Inn is at 123 East 100 South in St. George, Utah. It is about six blocks from the Dixie State College Campus.

Description: The College Inn is located in the heart of the historic district in St. George, six blocks from Dixie State University's campus. The historic district offers restored pioneer homes and buildings. This facility is used specifically for Road Scholar and other educational groups it is not used as housing for college students. St. George has beautiful red rock cliff and lava rock mesa as back drop with larger mountains and rock formations that can be seen in the distance. A lounge area with couches, DirecTV, a refrigerator, soda pop machine, guest laundry and microwave are available for your use. We also have a beautiful heated pool and hot tub for your enjoyment. The rooms do not have phones or televisions, but a public phone is available at the front desk.

Facility amenities: A lounge area with couches, DirecTV in lounge, free WiFi wireless Internet, a refrigerator, soda pop machine, guest laundry and microwave are available for your use. We also have a beautiful heated pool and hot tub for your enjoyment.

Smoking policy: NoSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Additional nights before: $35If you want to arrive early or stay over following the program you can arrange to stay with us for $35 per room per night. Please call (435) 634-2050 at least one week in advance during regular business hours to make a reservation.

Morning: Earth Science class and field trip to Snow Canyon State Park for a welcome walk and introduction to area geology. Walk with instructor on the nature trails among the red sandstone formations. At Snow Canyon State Park you can explore the natural beauty with scenery of red rock cliffs, rolling mounds of petrified sand dunes and lava (basalt) rock formations.

Description: Ruby's Inn is the closest accommodation to the entrance to Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah and is the perfect base for exploring the scenic wonders found here. Ruby's has a wonderful history of serving travelers and area visitors for almost 100 years! Each year they have added and improved to give guests the best in amenities, recreational options and more.

Morning: 8:15 am - Check-out and depart for Zion National Park. Our instructor and group leader go with you as you walk among the rock canyons and formations. Incredible scenery of red rock cliffs, riparian areas and more.

Lunch: Box lunch on the trail.

Afternoon: Continue walking and exploring Zion Canyon. Travel to the east side of Zion through the tunnels, view Checkerboard Mesa and continue to Bryce. (Travel time from Zion to Bryce is about 1 hour 15 minutes.) Arrive Bryce, get checked into hotel and relax a little before dinner.

Description: Lodging is near the Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile long wrinkle in the earth's crust known as a monocline, extends from nearby Thousand Lakes Mountain to the Colorado River (now Lake Powell) and just minutes from Capitol Reef National Park. The Park was established to protect this grand and colorful geologic feature, as well as the unique historical and cultural history found in the area. This is the perfect location for easy access to the hiking trails. Where you will explore the multi-colored cliffs common to Capitol Reef National Park and this region. They inspired the Indians who once lived here to name it the Land of the Sleeping Rainbow.
Located in Wayne County Utah, USA, it is comprised of 97% public lands with a wide range of scenic attractions: Capitol Reef National Park, Canyonlands National Park, two national forests and nearby Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah's only All American Road (Highway 12) three scenic byways, three scenic backways and numerous historic sites. All of this beckons your exploration and offers unique experience with each visit!

Afternoon: Travel scenic Highway 12 through a portion of the Grand Staircase to Anasazi State Park, where we will view native American Ruins and learn about the area human history.
Continue on Hwy 12 to Torrey, Utah and check into the hotel. Hwy 12 offers incredible scenery and it has been said that this route contains the most interesting and greatest concentration of diverse geology in the world.

Dinner: Dinner at the Broken Spur to include choice of beef or chicken, salad, rolls, vegetable, potato, and dessert.

Description: Lodging is near the Waterpocket Fold, a 100-mile long wrinkle in the earth's crust known as a monocline, extends from nearby Thousand Lakes Mountain to the Colorado River (now Lake Powell) and just minutes from Capitol Reef National Park. The Park was established to protect this grand and colorful geologic feature, as well as the unique historical and cultural history found in the area. This is the perfect location for easy access to the hiking trails. Where you will explore the multi-colored cliffs common to Capitol Reef National Park and this region. They inspired the Indians who once lived here to name it the Land of the Sleeping Rainbow.
Located in Wayne County Utah, USA, it is comprised of 97% public lands with a wide range of scenic attractions: Capitol Reef National Park, Canyonlands National Park, two national forests and nearby Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument, Utah's only All American Road (Highway 12) three scenic byways, three scenic backways and numerous historic sites. All of this beckons your exploration and offers unique experience with each visit!

Morning: 8:15 am - Depart and travel to Capitol Reef National Park for field trip and walks. A bold river flowing through a towering canyon, huge white domes topped by a brilliant blue sky, green beauty in a vast desert, seemingly mysterious formations carved by whimsical forces - all this is Capitol Reef! Enjoy discovering the unique beauty of this park.

Lunch: Box lunch on the trail.

Afternoon: Continue exploring the Park with more hikes/walks to see the natural beauty, petroglyphs, cultural and human history of the area.

Morning: 8:15 am - Depart and travel through Capitol Reef. Arrive at the John Wesley Powell Museum in Green River. This is a wonderful museum that captures the spirit of this great and determined explorer. This is a fitting introduction as we approach the Colorado River area that he first mapped and explored in such an exciting and adventurous fashion. Imagine venturing into the unknown and traveling down the mighty Colorado River on boats unsure of what is around the next bend or if you are headed for great rapids or large waterfalls that would leave you plunging to your death. The names of places and the initial geologic mapping of the areas we travel were created by John Wesley Powell, his traveling companions and their explorations.

Afternoon: Travel to Dead Horse Point State Park and
Canyonlands National Park to view a variety of unusual rock formations, along with deeply eroded canyons interspersed with sheer-sided mesas.
You can see nearly 100 miles in any direction and the Colorado River below.
Travel and check into hotel.

Description: The Best Western at Lake Powell is your ideal lodging choice in the Page-Lake Powell area. The hotel is located just minutes from beautiful Lake Powell and the Glen Canyon Dam in Page, Arizona. The Best Western at Lake Powell offers the convenience of a central location in the heart of Page surrounded by shops, galleries, museums, and restaurants.

Smoking policy: YesSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Elevator: Yes

Day Eight: Monday, June 09 - Edge of the Cedars Museum/Monument Valley

Breakfast: 7:00 - 8:00 am - Continental breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: 8:15 am - Check out of hotel and travel to Blanding and Edge of the Cedars Museum. This is ranked one of the best museums in the Southwest. Enjoy a docent-led presentation and some time to browse and learn on your own about the Native American history with artifacts, pottery and ruins.

Lunch: Lunch at Goulding’s Stagecoach Dining Room in Monument Valley which offers a spectacular, panoramic view of one of Mother Nature’s unique creations. Located at the site of many of the classic western movies, enjoy a meal overlooking the historic Goulding’s Trading Post and the same vista that John Wayne, John Ford and Henry Fonda made famous. The dining room is staffed by local Navajos (Dine’) so you'll have the chance to experience the grace and culture of this Southwestern Native American people while enjoying a choice of a traditional Navajo Taco with Navajo Fry Bread, Beef Stew, soup & salad bar, or Club Sandwich.

Afternoon: Enjoy the Monument Valley Visitor Center. The informational displays at the new Visitor Center allows park visitors to learn more about Navajo culture, tradition, language and history from the perspective of the Navajo people. The exhibit displays are a combination of pictorial information, interactive media and actual artifacts. Some of these displays include Navajo philosophy, the Treaty of 1868 "Long Walk” and a Navajo Code Talkers exhibit. Other exhibits will show the Navajo Nation Governmental structure, history of uranium mining and the legacy of films. Continue on to Lake Powell and check in at hotel.

Description: The Best Western at Lake Powell is your ideal lodging choice in the Page-Lake Powell area. The hotel is located just minutes from beautiful Lake Powell and the Glen Canyon Dam in Page, Arizona. The Best Western at Lake Powell offers the convenience of a central location in the heart of Page surrounded by shops, galleries, museums, and restaurants.

Morning: 6:50 am - Board bus and transfer to Wahweap Marina. Anchors away, as we cruise to Rainbow Bridge National Monument, one of the Natural Wonders of the World!
Cruise aboard a large boat with professional captain, an enclosed lower level with seating and large windows, bathrooms and an upper open air level with seating and areas to stand and enjoy the scenery.

Lunch: Box lunch on board cruise.

Afternoon: Return from Lake Powell Cruise and transfer back to Page for some free time.
5:00 pm - Depart for a Navajo Village special presentation! This is a fascinating glimpse into the Navajo culture and traditions. Presented by Navajo Tribe members.

Description: The College Inn is located in the heart of the historic district in St. George, six blocks from Dixie State University's campus. The historic district offers restored pioneer homes and buildings. This facility is used specifically for Road Scholar and other educational groups it is not used as housing for college students. St. George has beautiful red rock cliff and lava rock mesa as back drop with larger mountains and rock formations that can be seen in the distance. A lounge area with couches, DirecTV, a refrigerator, soda pop machine, guest laundry and microwave are available for your use. We also have a beautiful heated pool and hot tub for your enjoyment. The rooms do not have phones or televisions, but a public phone is available at the front desk.

Facility amenities: A lounge area with couches, DirecTV in lounge, free WiFi wireless Internet, a refrigerator, soda pop machine, guest laundry and microwave are available for your use. We also have a beautiful heated pool and hot tub for your enjoyment.

Smoking policy: NoSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Additional nights before: $35If you want to arrive early or stay over following the program you can arrange to stay with us for $35 per room per night. Please call (435) 634-2050 at least one week in advance during regular business hours to make a reservation.

Morning: 8:15 am - Check-out and travel to Grand Canyon National Park, North Rim. Upon arrival we'll take a short hike out to Bright Angel Point. The half-mile round-trip out tp the spine of the ridge to the point is paved and is a little steep in places, but worth it. From the point you'll be treated to impressive colorful views stretching well down into Roaring Springs and Bright Angel Canyons.

Lunch: Lunch at the North Rim Lodge Dining Room. Dining in this historic lodge is truly a memorable experience. They take pride in utilizing only the freshest and healthiest ingredients and offer organic products including delicious salad greens and pastas. The lunch buffet includes a full assortment of daily pastas with alfredo, marinara or bolognese sauces, shredded parmesan cheese, fresh baked garlic rolls, chilled organic field greens and complementing salad toppings and dressing. Also your choice of organic fair trade shade-grown coffee, tea or a fountain drink.

Afternoon: Continue exploring the Grand Canyon's North Rim from various view points.
Travel to St. George, Utah.

Dinner: Enjoy a closing dinner and recap the scenic beauty you were able to see and experience this week!

Free Time Opportunities

St. George, Utah

General Information**Please note: The amount of free time varies with each program. The free time options noted here may require spending additional time on your own to experience them. Check your program schedule to determine what is possible in the time available.
For additional information, visit: www.utahsdixie.com

Grand Canyon North Rim

General Overview of Grand Canyon North Rim**Please note: The Grand Canyon North Rim is open MAY 15 - OCT 15 each year it is closed during the winter months. There is very little free time during this program. The free time options noted here are helpful if you plan to spend additional time on your own.
For additional information, visit: www.nps.gov/grca/

Zion National Park

General Information about Zion National Park~~~Zion Canyon IMAX for more information visit the website www.zioncanyontheatre.com
For additional information, visit: www.nps.gov/zion

Bryce Canyon National Park

General Overview of Bryce Canyon National Park free time options**PLEASE NOTE: There is very little free time during this program. The free time options noted here are helpful if you plan to spend additional time before or after the program.
Shuttle runs from May 15 - September 30, from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm daily.For additional information, visit: www.nps.gov/brca

Important information about your itinerary: Please know that while we do everything we can to finalize all aspects of our programs well in advance, there are logistics that occasionally must be altered. Our website will reflect the most recent information, and we are committed to providing you with final program details no later than eight weeks prior to the start of programs outside the U.S. and three weeks prior to the start of programs within the U.S. If you ever have questions about your program, please don't hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

Need Help?

The latest in light, portable, easy-to-use QUIETVOX listening devices are available on Road Scholar programs.* Whether you are outdoors, in a crowd or in a museum environment where speaking loudly is discouraged, a listening device makes it feel like our experts are speaking clearly and directly to you. Hear for yourself on a Road Scholar adventure!

*Please note that due to the nature of some programs, the remote location or government regulations, listening devices may not be available. If you’d like to know for sure if your program will offer listening devices, just call and ask an Advisor!